The sharp drop in fertility
In 2023, 678,000 babies were born in France. In one year, births have fallen by almost 7%, with 48,000 fewer newborns. Theyhave fallen "by about 20% compared to 2010", the year of the last peak in births, notes INSEE. This drop below the symbolic milestone of 700,000 births can be explained by a sharp drop in fertility. New for 2023: fertility is declining at all ages. The total fertility rate stood at 1.68 children per woman in 2023 compared to 1.79 a year earlier. "Since the Second World War, this indicator has never been so low, except in 1993 and 1994," INSEE points out.
A high but declining number of deaths
In 2023, 631,000 people died in France, 6.5% less than in 2022. After three years of high mortality, including 2022, which saw the Omicron variant one after the other, a late flu epidemic and several heat waves, last year was kinder for the elderly. However, the death rate remains higher than before the health crisis with the arrival of the large baby boom generations in old age. A long-term trend. Mortality has tended "to increase faster over the last ten years (+0.7% per year on average between 2004 and 2014, then +1.9% between 2014 and 2019)," notes INSEE.
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The lowest natural balance since the end of the Second World War
On 1 January 2024, France had 68.4 million inhabitants, an increase of 0.3% over one year as last year. The difference between the number of births and deaths recorded over the year is +47,000 in 2023. This is the natural balance "at the lowest level since the end of the Second World War", points out INSEE. Falling since 2007, it had fallen sharply in 2020 due to the rise in Covid-19 deaths and fewer births. The slight rebound in 2021 was short-lived. Net migration, i.e. the difference between the number of people who entered the country and the number of people who left during the year, is provisionally estimated at 183,000 people for 2023.
Life expectancy hits record high
This is the good news of this demographic assessment. In 2023, life expectancy at birth is 85.7 years for women and 80 years for men. A first. "This increase is strong," comments INSEE, with an increase of 0.6 years for women and 0.7 years for men compared to 2022. In addition, the population is aging in France with the arrival at old age of the large baby boom generations. One in five people is 65 years of age or older. People aged 75 or over now represent one in ten people in France.
A multitude of marriages and PACS
In 2023, the number of marriages in France is estimated at 242,000, of which 7000,2022 are same-sex marriages. After years of downturn, 2023 had been a good year for unions through a post-pandemic catch-up effect. A trend that has continued into 210. In addition, 000,2022 civil solidarity pacts (PACS) were concluded in 1999, the highest level
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